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“When you walked in tonight, were you envisioning ways to slit your husband’s throat?”
I just gaped at her, completely dumbfounded.
Nyx laughed. “And my next question is, would you like me to teach you different ways to do it and not get caught?”
What the hell was happening here? I pulled back. “I’m not sure what you expect me to say.”
“Behave, Goddess. Let Nerine settle in. She just arrived and isn’t used to your sense of humor.”
“I wasn’t kidding, Simon.”
“I know this.” Simon set a hand on Nyx’s waist and leaned in so only Nyx and I could hear his words. “Sometimes it’s better to use a scalpel than a machete.”
“Just because you hang out with Papa does not mean you’re an honorary surgeon. I like blades.”
I felt as if I’d entered the twilight zone. “I don’t understand any of this.”
Ignoring me, Simon said, “Nyx, until Nerine learns to handle the smaller instruments, you can’t give her bigger ones to play with.”
“Are you two for real?” My voice shook as I whispered, “Who are you?”
“The question you need to answer is, who areyou?” Simon’s voice softened. “Peter Angelos was part of a small group who stood by me when my Pappos died and my uncle challenged my legitimacy to the family leadership. That isn’t something I will forget. You deserve better than what has happened to you.”
His mentioning Papa sent a pang to my heart. I missed him so much.
“Play the game with us, Nerine. Don’t you want to fight back?” Nyx asked.
“And do what?” I shook my head. “I don’t want to take the seat. I want freedom for me, my sisters, and Mama.”
“Before deciding who takes the seat, you must remove the person sitting there.” Simon steered us into the dining room.
“How do you expect me to do that?”
“It starts with you learning to defend yourself.” Nyx sighed and then took my hand in hers, shifting my cuff to expose the bruise forming in the shape of fingers. “If he wasn’t who he was and we weren’t where we are, I’d gut him for you. Or get you to do it.”
“Goddess, she doesn’t have the skills.”
“Oh, she will.”
“Let me guess. You plan to teach me.”
Before she could respond, Andraius approached, and she released my arm.
“Ladies, are you ready for dinner?” Andraius offered me his elbow.
“Absolutely.” Nyx smiled at him and said, “Oh, I wanted to say how happy I am that Nerine has agreed to help me at the botanical gardens this summer. I hope we can start her training this week.”
Surprise flashed across Andraius’s face, a hint of pleasure as if I’d finally done something right. “Yes, she is always willing to lend a hand. That is, of course, the Angelos way.”
Four
Theo
“Are you in position?”
“Yes, asshole. I know my job,” I responded to Xander through my earpiece.
“This is your first surveillance assignment stateside in three years. So I have to make sure you can handle being around this type of snobbery.”
